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Opening HoursWhere to go in Central America
The total land area of Central America could fit into the USA more than three times over, and if we took Mexico out of the equation this would go up to eighteen times. However, in this case, size means nothing, as the culture, history and beauty these small countries (and one rather larger one) contain is huge. There is the incredible biodiversity of Costa Rica, the authentic Latin feel of Guatemala, the beautiful beaches of Mexico and the hidden gem that is Nicaragua, while the laid-back philosophy of the local people can be felt throughout the region. This is without even mentioning the ancient ruins, spectacular jungles and volcanic lunar-like landscapes that are dotted all over the region. With so many possibilities of where to go Central America, we've put together our top picks for each of the countries in the region below.
Where to go in Central America
Belize
Formerly British Honduras, Belize is a country defined by various cultures, languages, and ethnic groups including descendants of the Mayans,...
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a picture perfect and pocket-sized country with two beautiful coastlines separated by a spine of extremely active volcanoes.
Guatemala
One of the more 'original' destinations on the Original Travel books, Guatemala is a near perfect distillation of all that's so alluring about...
Mexico
Forget Cancun, Mexico is a truly diverse country, with a vast array of attractions for travellers of all tastes.
Panama
The crumbling colonial Casco Viejo is a delight to wander around on foot, and of course, seeing the canal in action is something not to be missed.
El Salvador
Sitting between Guatemala and Honduras on Central America’s western coast, El Salvador is the regions smallest and least visited country. Ravaged...
Cuba
Though often grouped into Latin America, Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and without a doubt the most fascinating.
Honduras
The world is pretty much split into people who know nothing about Honduras, and those that have vaguely heard of Copan – one of the finest...
Nicaragua
New favourite Nicaragua, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south, is the largest country in the region and famous for its...
Showing 1 - 9 of 9 destinations
What to do in Central America
Showing 1 - 3 of 30 activities
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Salsa
Music and dance are so much more than entertainment in Cuba, they’re a part of life, especially when it comes to salsa.
Boxing in Havana
Despite professional boxing being banned in Cuba in 1961, amateur boxing is a seminal part of Cuban culture and the country has enjoyed sensational...
Dance Day in Havana
There’s music on every street corner in Cuba and toddlers learn to dance almost before they can walk, so it makes sense that the country’s...
Tobacco Farm Visit
Cigars are perhaps Cuba’s most famous export. Tobacco is grown among the limestone karsts of Viñales, where farmers use the same time-tested...
Tocori Waterfalls Riding Tour
Explore the private Tocori Biological Reserve, the Tocori waterfalls and the beautiful beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park on a riding trip...
Teotihuacan Pyramids
Near to Mexico City lies the unmissable - and enormous - pre-Aztec site of San Juan Teotihuacán.
Gastronomy in Mexico City
Mexican cuisine was added to the intangible UNESCO World Heritage list back in 2010, therefore it seems only right that whilst exploring the...
Art Tours in Mexico City
As the birthplace of the legendary feminist artist Frida Kahlo, there is understandably a vibrant and creative artistic presence within Mexico...
Historical Mexico City
Mexico has a history almost as colourful as its fabrics, art and cuisine, and the capital city has played a vital role over the years, through...
San Juan de Chamula
The fairly banal (in comparison) exterior does not prepare you for the surreal goings-on inside, and to see it really is to believe it.
Yaxchilan & Bonampak
Gaining access to the Yaxchilan site is notoriously difficult, meaning very few visitors make the trip. However we have had a word with our Mexican...
Gastronomy in Oaxaca
Mexican cuisine was recently granted UNESCO World Heritage status, making this the first national cuisine to merit such exalted eminence. We’re...
Arts & Crafts in Oaxaca
Forget the food (OK, ignore that) - Oaxaca is also Mexico’s craft capital. We can arrange visits to artisanal villages such as Teotitlan del...
Day of the Dead Celebrations
The Day of the Dead festival takes place from Halloween until the night of the 2nd November, and this most Mexican of events is best experienced...
Zapotec Ruins of Monte Alban
Dating back to 500BC, the impressive Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán lie just 6 miles from the city of Oaxaca, and so are a must-visit in our humble...
Palenque
Located on the western edge of the Mayan empire within the state of Chiapas, the ancient and UNESCO protected site of Palenque is one of the...
Tulum
Tulum was a site of huge importance between 1000 and 1600 AD, and something of a haven for the elite of the Mayan world.
Chichén Itzá
The ruins of Chichén Itzá are on the UNESCO World Heritage list and the site was crowned one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.
Swimming with Whale Sharks
Ever swum with Whale Sharks? No? Well now is your chance...
Mayan Ruins in Yucatan
The Yucatan area has numerous sites with Mayan ruins. While some sites cover vast areas and have been well preserved or restored others are much...
Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
Covering around 1.3million acres the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is the largest protected area in the Mexican Caribbean.
Day at a Cenote
Cenotes (natural limestone sinkholes) come in different forms from the ‘open’ cenotes that can be found at ground level to the ‘semi-abierto’...
Surfing lessons at Los Cerritos Beach
Surfing lessons at Los Cerritos Beach is a great place for both surf aficionados and those who want to try their hand at it.
Sea Kayaking & Whale Watching at La Paz
Paddle your way around the vivid waters of the Baja Peninsula, camping on pristine beaches by night and spotting wildlife by day.
Camping on Espiritu Santo Island
This is a great place for those looking for an outdoor adventure, as it is likely to remain undeveloped having been sold to the Mexican government...
Corcovado National Park
Described by National Geographic as 'the most biologically intense place on Earth', the Osa Peninsula is one big wildlife park but the jewel...
Surfing the Nicoya Peninsula
Warm waters, stunning beaches and fewer people than many surf spots in Costa Rica make the Nicoya Peninsula as close to surfing perfection as...
Volcano Tours
There are two highly impressive volcanoes within easy reach of San Jose, and well worth day trip's for anyone staying in Costa Rica for more...
La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Searching for birds and big cats in the wild is all well and good, but at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens you’ll find them all conveniently in...
Canopy Tours
Swoop through the cloud forest with the greatest of ease on a zip-wire, and discover the rainforest from a hanging bridge high up in the canopy.
Showing 1 - 3 of 30 activities
Load moreLuxury Hotels in Central America
Showing 1 - 3 of 30 hotels
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Rancho Humo Estancia
A nature lovers dream, Rancho Humo Estancia is off the well worn path in Costa Rica, located in the small town of Puerto Humo on the Nicoya Peninsula.
Hotel Esencia
Hotel Esencia is a chic beach retreat set on a two-mile stretch of white-sand beach along the ‘Riviera Maya’ of Mexico’s Yucatán coast.
Los Almendros de San Lorenzo
Just under an hour’s drive from San Salvador, Los Almendros de San Lorenzo is a boutique hotel housed in an old colonial hacienda in the heart...
La Cocotera
Bordered by the warm Pacific Ocean on one side and a peaceful estuary on the other, La Cocotera is one of the best properties in El Salvador...
La Reserve Vedado Havana
La Reserve Vedado Havana is a charming, beautifully-restored colonial house located just on the outskirts of bustling Havana on a residential...
Casa Adela Vedado
Casa Adela is a beautifully restored Colonial house in the quieter, residential Vedado neighbourhood of Havana. This neoclassical style house...
Cayo Levisa Hotel
Nestled on the beach, this fantastic all-inclusive hotel offers an authentic island life experience. The hotel is the lone accommodation on Cayo...
Hotel La Union by Melia
Right in the heart of Cienfuegos old town you’ll find the beautiful and historic La Union Hotel, built in the 1860s.
Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana
Located in the heart of old Havana, Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski’s central location is ideal for exploring old Havana and the rest of the capital....
Hotel Santa Isabel
Hotel Santa Isabel, the magnificent former mansion of the Counts of Santovenia, was opened in 1867, and soon became the favourite haunt of ship...
Hotel Saratoga
The Hotel Saratoga is located on the edge of the ‘Old Havana’ district, the historic heart of the city, opposite the Capitol Building and...
Iberostar Parque Central
The Iberostar Parque Central, built in tune with its surroundings in the heart of the old quarter, combines the elegance of Spanish colonial...
Iberostar Grand Trinidad
El Iberostar Grand Hotel Trinidad is a small, elegant hotel, built in the local style.
Casa La Casona
Good news - the search is over for a charming, boutique place to stay in rustic and unexplored Trinidad! Casa La Casona is a wonderfully restored...
Los Jazmines
The Valley of Vinales offers some of Cuba’s most dramatic natural landscape in the world’s best tobacco growing region.
Meliá Buenavista
Located to the east of Cayo Santa Maria, Meliá Buenavista is surrounded by white beaches and gin-clear water. Strictly no children allowed,...
Paradisus Varadero Resort & Spa
This five-star all-inclusive luxury Resort & Spa is located on the beach in one of the finest areas of Veradero. It is surrounded by lush tropical...
Paradisus Rio de Oro Resort & Spa
Paradisus Rio de Oro Resort & Spa is an all-inclusive eco-resort, located on the beachfront inside the Bahia de Naranjo Natural Park, overlooking...
El Mangroove
El Mangroove is set in the middle of a natural mangrove forest, right on the beachfront; chic yet relaxed, modern yet down-to-earth, with service...
Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort
The Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort is located on the Pacific coast of north-west Costa Rica in the scenic region of dry tropical forest, volcanic...
Four Seasons Costa Rica Peninsula Papagayo
The 2,400-acre Papagayo Peninsula is part of a giant, government-backed development project on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. One day it will...
Kura Design Villas
Owned by a cool young Costa Rican couple, Kura Design Villas luxury hotel is tucked away in dense rainforest a couple of miles inland from the...
Arenas del Mar
If one phrase describes Arenas del Mar it’s ‘sustainable luxury’. Costa Rica already has a fine reputation for this sort of thing, but...
Alta Gracia
Sitting in the mountains of Perez Zeledon inland from the Central Pacific Coast, Alta Gracia is a new luxury spa hotel that opened in June 2015.
The Condesa
The Condesa is a stylish design hotel where all the furniture is individually crafted for each individual space.
Four Seasons Mexico City
The Four Seasons in Mexico City is ideally situated on the Paseo de la Reforma, near Chapultepec Park, the National Museum of Anthropology and...
Las Alcobas
Located in the fashionable district of Polanco, Las Alcobas is one of Mexico City’s newest and trendiest boutique hotels, surrounded by designer...
St Regis Mexico City
Overlooking the Pasea de la Reforma in the heart of Mexico City, the St Regis Mexico City sits within the 31 storey Torre Libertad, designed...
Uvence Arte + Hotel
Located in the oldest part of town, Uvence Arte + Hotel is a converted hacienda that offers guests an authentic yet luxurious experience.
Quinta Chanabnal
Quinta Chanabal is a modern Mayan palace, and is just a ten minute drive from the ancient Mayan ruins of Palenque.
Showing 1 - 3 of 30 hotels
Load moreAt Your Service
We rarely boast about our service but we believe it's what sets us apart and makes us truly original, so please forgive this moment of unabashed self-promotion.
The Best Spring Holidays for 2020
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Want to put the spring back in your step after the dark
doldrums of winter? We've got just the ticket, and with Easter plus
two May bank holidays, spring is one of the best times of year for
an epic escape. Here's where to go in spring 2020…
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World Religion Day - Our Top Religious Sites and Festivals
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World Religion Day is on Sunday 19th January this year, with the organisers keen to stress the importance of religion and spirituality in unifying humans around the world. They've got a point, because despite a few very obvious on-going (and seemingly implacable) religious rivalries around…
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Trending Destinations: What's Hot for 2020
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Taking the planet's pulse is a particularly pleasurable part of our job, and each year we predict which destinations will hit the heights. So, without further delay, we introduce Original Travel's magnificent seven trending destinations for 2020. Some are entirely new destinations for us,…
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Top 2020 Trips for Tweens
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Welcome to the age of the 'tweenager' - the twilight zone between the innocence of early childhood and the dark ages of the teenage years. No need to panic though, because handled correctly these can be some of the most memorable (for all the right reasons) of all family travel times. For…
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Undertourism: Breaking Away from the Masses
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Where 'overtourists' elbow for selfie space at honeypot destinations, 'undertourists' (we may have just made these words up) break away from the masses and discover beautiful but lesser-visited places that they can have all to themselves. Why visit The Beach in Thailand (which has had to…
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